Cape Town – Police have opened cases of common assault and malicious damage to property after an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) crew member was sexually harassed at a garage kiosk in Mitchells Plain at the weekend.
Police spokesperson FC van Wyk said: “We can confirm that cases of common assault and malicious damage to property were registered for investigation.
"According to reports, the complainant (an ambulance passenger) was on duty with her partner when they stopped at a garage in Eisleben Road, Lentegeur.
“In the shop at the paypoint an unidentified man started touching her (the complainant) and then hit her twice in the face.
"Her partner tried to stop the suspect. He then picked up a stone and threw it at the ambulance, damaging the rear window.”
Police say the suspects fled the scene on foot and are yet to be arrested.
EMS spokesperson Robert Daniels said the female employee was approached by two men on Saturday about 11.30pm.
“A woman EMS practitioner was threatened, sexually harassed and physically assaulted by two adult men at a service centre kiosk in Lentegeur, Mitchells Plain, while her partner was waiting for her in their response vehicle.
"She managed to get away from her attackers to the safety of the ambulance, but the attackers proceeded to stone the ambulance from behind as the crew rushed from the scene,” Daniels said.
The crew has been offered counselling. “Community members are urged to help keep EMS crews safe. An attack on an EMS crew is an attack on your own community,” Daniels said.
Anyone with any information about this incident can anonymously contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or SMS Crime Line on 32211.